Cullen Petrey
About
Hey there! My name is McCullen, a guitarist and musician in Denver, Colorado! I've been a gigging and touring musician for my entire adult life, most of my child life, and then chose to pursue music into college at CCU where I majored in Sound Production and specialized in Guitar Perfomance. After graduation, I have had the chance to tour, release multiple records, and perform both in the pit for musicals and on stage in countless other shows. In my time as a musician in many different contexts, I have learned to be comfortable with playing just about anything you can throw at me, no matter the genre.
Teaching Style
Music is my best friend and I want it to be yours as well. I am first and foremost a student led teacher, I truly believe that music is at its best both in function and quality when it engaged in joyfully, and for human connection first and foremost, so, my goal is to teach what best connects with each individual student to meet their goals.
Curriculum
As a teacher, I believe in practical understanding and usefulness on whatever instrument we choose. Therefore, I am more focused on learned the skills we need to be a functional musician, and less so on arbitrary progression path that pushes students through a predetermined list of skills that may not connect with the specific and individual student that I am teaching at that moment. For that reason, I tend away from written methods and stay flexible to what is presenting as important to my student at that time.
Credentials & Affiliations
BA in Music, Sound Production Engineering with Guitar Emphasis — Colorado Christian University graduated 2017
Nearly 20 years of live performance and touring experience
10 years of informal instruction as a private instructor and 3 years of formal teaching experience at schools such as Prospect Academy and the American Music School
Created and implemented a music program at a school serving children with developmental differences at Prospect Academy
Released four records across two bands; performed with several additional musical projects
Pit orchestra musician for musicals such as a recent university production of Matilda
Live Performance Background: Decades of regular live performances, including periods of monthly or more frequent shows
